Intestinal parasites can be wormlike (roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms) or one-celled protozoan organisms (coccidia, giardia, toxoplasmosis). In kittens, they are a common cause of diarrhea.
Fecal exams are very important for kittens with diarrhea, which can be life threatening. Fecal exams are also important when kittens strain to defecate, lack appetite, vomit […]
Ringworm is the most common infectious skin disease in cats and gets its name from its circular appearance of hair loss and scaling of the skin. Ringworm isn’t a worm at all, and it’s not just an inconvenience. In a shelter, it can spread havoc.
Ringworm is a fungal infection caused by dermatophytes, microscopic fungal […]
Poop, poo, stool, feces and bowel movement are some of the words that describe what kittens deposit, hopefully, in the litter box: solid bodily waste discharged from the large intestine through the anus during defecation.
Kitten stool is a highly useful indicator of an individual’s health. However, kittens can’t defecate (poop) or urinate (pee) before […]
For as long as there have been cats, they have instinctively been burying their pee and poop – or not. They bury their waste to avoid unwanted attention to themselves or their kittens. On the other hand, if they want to claim territory, they don’t bury their waste, which contains unique chemical scent markers […]
Mom cats lick their kittens’ genital areas to stimulate kittens to pee and poop. It’s nature’s way of keeping the nest and kittens clean and not attracting predators. When there is no mom cat, fosters use a soft tissue to stimulate kittens to potty before and after each meal.
It isn’t until kittens are three […]
Kittens can begin transitioning from nursing to food at about four weeks of age. Although choosing food and water bowls seems straightforward, it’s important to consider a few things to keep kittens, and cats, happy and healthy.
Material
Everything is a toy to kittens, who can be injured in the blink of an eye. Take precautions to protect them from these potentially dangerous items, some of which can be fatal:
Have you ever wondered what makes one thermometer better than another when it comes to taking a kitten’s temperature? Now’s the time to find out, and get a thermometer. Kittens younger than four weeks of age cannot self regulate their body temperature, and having the right thermometer at the right time can mean the […]
All kittens should receive a baseline exam to access their overall health status. This allows you to address any immediate concerns as well as measure subsequent improvement or worsening of the kitten’s health. Follow these steps to perform a thorough exam. Remember to talk softly, move slowly and handle gently.
Set up your exam area […]
If you’ve struggled to get a kitten into a carrier, you’re not alone. It’s difficult to experience how scared and uncooperative a kitten can be, which makes the process stressful for everyone involved; but, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are tips to help foster or adopted kittens like, or at least […]
